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Thread: Face of Battle

  1. #1

    Default Face of Battle

    Keegan states that the distinction between strategy and tactics is "elusive and artificial." Please explain.
    Vitiate Man.

    History repeats the old conceits
    The glib replies, the same defeats


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  2. #2
    COYATOYPIKC Senior Member Flatout Minigame Champion Arjos's Avatar
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    Default Re: Face of War

    One could see strategy as the set of actions and planning to achieve a grand goal; and tacticts as the set of procedures to gain the upper hand in a confrontation...
    While Keegan points out how the distinction between the two is something "feeble" and "constructed"...

    Imo it's all down to a personal view...

  3. #3

    Default Re: Face of War

    That's not very satisfying.

    Correction: Face of Battle. Oh dear.
    Vitiate Man.

    History repeats the old conceits
    The glib replies, the same defeats


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  4. #4
    COYATOYPIKC Senior Member Flatout Minigame Champion Arjos's Avatar
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    Default Re: Face of War

    I don't know how to make it clearer :S

    It's like this: tacticts are used to win a battle, while strategy to win the war; Keegan says that it's all the same...

    This is very simplistic though...

  5. #5

    Default Re: Face of War

    Imo it's all down to a personal view...
    That's what I was referring to.

    Yes, I see that you yourself provided a reasonable distinction. So why doesn't Keegan see one?
    Vitiate Man.

    History repeats the old conceits
    The glib replies, the same defeats


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  6. #6
    COYATOYPIKC Senior Member Flatout Minigame Champion Arjos's Avatar
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    Default Re: Face of War

    Ohhhhhh :P

    That in your quote was how I see it :D (there's a distiction or not depending on one's opinion)

    To me they are two different things: for example one can have in mind a set goal, but rely on opportunism or is powerless to mold reality to his favour, even if he can achieve victory on the battlefield...
    First to my mind is Spartacus...

    I read "A History of Warfare" by Keegan, didn't read "Face of Battle" yet (you gave me another one to add to the list ^^), so I can't say...
    Doesn't he go further with his idea in the book?
    Last edited by Arjos; 09-15-2011 at 03:30.

  7. #7

    Default Re: Face of War

    As far as I remember, he just mentions it offhand in the first chapter.

    Further: Strategy - Army Group A and Army Group B will coordinate to encircle enemy capital
    Tactics - Deploy armor in echelon and with overlapping lines of sight
    Vitiate Man.

    History repeats the old conceits
    The glib replies, the same defeats


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  8. #8
    COYATOYPIKC Senior Member Flatout Minigame Champion Arjos's Avatar
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    Default Re: Face of War

    Well uhm... that's clearly seeing them as two concepts :P
    Unless he consider the whole picture as military operations at macro or micro levels...

    I hope someone with better knowledge than mine can enlight this...

  9. #9

    Default Re: Face of War

    I haven't read the book, but the distinction has always revolved around planning and execution in my mind.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Senior Member econ21's Avatar
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    Default Re: Face of War

    Quote Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger View Post
    I haven't read the book, ...
    Off topic, but you should try it. I found it the most interesting analytical book I have read about war.
    Last edited by econ21; 09-15-2011 at 07:41.

  11. #11
    Tree Killer Senior Member Beirut's Avatar
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    Default Re: Face of War

    Ther Face of Battle is an excellent book.

    The best explanation of strategy vs. tactics I ever read was in a Guns & Ammo column by Col. Jeff Cooper:

    "Strategy is getting the girl to go out with you, picking her up on time, taking her to dinner, cataloguing her charms, and then finding a nice dark, quiet place to park afterwards - from that point on it's all tactics."
    Unto each good man a good dog

  12. #12
    COYATOYPIKC Senior Member Flatout Minigame Champion Arjos's Avatar
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    Default Re: Face of War

    Ahahahahahahah priceless Beirut ^^

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